powstanie

Powstanie (Polish for “uprising” or “rebellion”) denotes an organized, often armed, resistance against an established authority, typically a state or occupying power. The term is rooted in the verb „powstać” (to rise), and in historical discourse it designates movements that seek political, national, or social change through collective action. In Polish historiography, powstania are frequently associated with the struggle for independence and self‑determination, especially during the partitions of Poland (1795‑1918) when the nation was divided among Russia, Prussia and Austria.

The most prominent powstania include the Kościuszko Uprising of 1794, led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in an attempt to restore Polish sovereignty after the Second Partition; the November Uprising of 1830‑31, a primarily military insurrection against Russian rule in Congress Poland; the Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie) Uprising of 1848, part of the broader Revolutions of 1848; the January Uprising of 1863‑64, a prolonged guerrilla campaign against Russian domination; and the Greater Poland Uprising of 1918‑19, which contributed to the re‑establishment of an independent Polish state after World War I.

Powstania have also occurred in the 20th century, notably the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, when the Home Army (Armia Krajowa) attempted to liberate the capital from German occupation, and the anti‑communist resistance of the late 1940s and early 1950s. While most uprisings ended in defeat due to superior enemy forces, they have left a lasting cultural legacy, shaping national memory, literature and commemorations. In contemporary usage, powstanie may refer more broadly to any collective act of defiance, political protest or civil unrest, extending beyond strictly military contexts.